EP3412591B1

EP3412591B1 - Inner cap attachment-detachment structure, and container equipped with same

Info

Publication number: EP3412591B1
Application number: EP17747561.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yuki FURUNO
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-02-03
Filing date: 2017-02-03
Publication date: 2021-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 2037-02-03
Also published as: DK3412591T3; WO2017135410A1; JP6837445B2; EP3412591A1; CN109071078B; EP3412591A4; CN109071078A; JPWO2017135410A1

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an inner cap attachment-detachment structure of a container having an inner cap and an outer cap, and the container equipped with same.

Background Art

In order to strictly protect the content, a container is used which is equipped with an inner cap for blocking an aperture part of the container in the manner of a plug to improve the sealability, and an outer cap mounted to the inner cap so as to be externally overlaid thereupon. In such a container, the inner cap is extremely tightly embedded in the aperture part in the manner of a plug; therefore, operations of a removal and an embedment of the inner cap are extremely hard to conduct even if empirically conducted. As a result, every time the attachment/detachment operation of the inner cap is conducted, the content scatters easily. Furthermore, when the content is a liquid, the removed inner cap is usually attached by the content on the bottom, and should be put close to the workplace in an upside-down posture; actually, it is hard to find an appropriate position for keeping the removed inner cap, and the operation of putting the inner cap upside-down itself is relatively complicate because much attention should be paid not to attaching the content to the hand.
Therefore, the inventor has already proposed patent literature JP 4 134105 B2 , which discloses the features of the preamble of appended claims 1 and 2, titled "inner cap attachment-detachment structure" and disclosed its solution. In this invention, an engagement projection is arranged on an upper edge of a recessed part in an upper area of the inner cap so as to project in the manner of eaves toward the inner side; on the other hand, an attachment-detachment operation part is formed in an upper area of the outer cap so as to be embedded in the recessed part of the inner cap, and an engagement recessed groove is arranged on the peripheral surface so as to obtain an bayonet engagement state with the engagement projection of the inner cap. Then, after the engagement state of the engagement projection and the engagement recessed groove appears, by operating the outer cap like a hand tool for removing, the inner cap is pried out from the aperture part without directly touching the inner cap with a hand.
According to the above-mentioned invention, many of the above problems have been solved, but the present inventor has carried out various developments to further improve the reliability of the operation, and proceeded to figure out a structure in which a mold cost and so on are also considered so as to get the appropriate cost in an actual product supply. When a form is pursued for realizing the appropriate product cost, along with a problem caused by a necessary clearance in the engagement operation between the inner cap and the outer cap, a new problem to be solved which is caused by inherent characteristics and specifications of the inner cap has been found.
Specifically, when appropriate product cost is pursued, from the perspective of the mold cost or injection molding cost, preferably, the engagement projections of the inner cap engaged in the manner of the bayonet with the attachment-detachment operation part are formed into a pair of opposite engagement projections; however, in this state, due to the existence of the clearance, when the attachment-detachment operation part of the outer cap is messily embedded in the inner cap, there is a possibility that the inner cap cannot be removed smoothly, or cannot be embedded back smoothly later. Furthermore, the inner cap is made of a soft resin, and the shape of the inner cap is different in a state of a plugging action and a free state after the removal; therefore, a problem of more strictly avoiding the uncertain operation caused by this is to be solved.
That is, obviously, when the inner cap is tightly embedded in the aperture part of the container in a plug-like state, the inner cap is regulated in the aperture part of the container and an exact dimension and shape appear, and the dimensions of the attachment-detachment operation part of the outer cap which acts on such an embedded inner cap are set correspondingly, so that the inner cap can be certainly removed except for the uncertain operation caused by the clearance discussed previously. However, on the other hand, compared with the plugging action state, the unplugged inner cap in the free state has a bulging shape and insufficient rigidity in a sense, the engagement state with the attachment-detachment operation part engaged with the inner cap is a loose state in a sense, that is, a state in which the rattling increases. When trying to plug the inner cap again in this state, there is a case that an inner cap core and an outer cap core do not correspond with each other, and there is also concern that uncertain working states are generated in which the inner cap cannot be equally provided on the aperture part and a pressing action cannot be reliably performed, or the outer cap which presses the inner cap falls into the recessed part of the inner cap. By the way, as described above, such a problem is actualized in a case of a pair of bayonet-like engagement positions, but the problem also occasionally appears when there is more than three engagement positions, and it is certain that the following solutions can also be effectively functioned even under such cases.

Summary of Invention

Technical Problem

The present invention is accomplished under this background, and the objective is to further improve the invention previously created by the present inventor, and provide a structure with which it is possible to eliminate uncertain operation even while a configuration pursing realistic manufacturing costs is used.

Solution to Problem

This problem is solved with the inner cap attachment-detachment structure of appended claim 1 (technical solution 1).
Claim 2 provides another solution to this problem (technical solution 2).
In addition, the inner cap attachment-detachment structure may comprise an alignment guiding structure arranged so that in the position of a start of the engagement between the engagement projection in the inner cap and the raised part in the attachment-detachment operation part of the outer cap, any one of the two or both the two are transformed from a loose engagement state to an engaging ensuring state (technical solution 3).
In addition, the alignment guiding structure may be arranged in the engagement projection; the engagement projection includes an alignment guiding zone and an engagement ensuring zone from the start side toward the completion side of the engagement with the catch groove of the attachment-detachment operation part in the outer cap; the projection width of the engagement projection in a plane view is formed so that the projection width of the alignment guiding zone is set to be smaller than that of the engagement ensuring zone, and the projection width is increased toward the engagement ensuring zone to be continuous with the engagement ensuring zone (technical solution 4).
In addition, the engagement projection in the inner cap may be formed opposite to each other in two positions; accordingly, the engagement recessed groove which is formed in the attachment-detachment operation part of the outer cap is formed in two positions (technical solution 5).
In addition, the receiving notch in the engagement recessed groove formed in the attachment-detachment operation part of the outer cap may form a receiving surface chamfer, toward a top surface part of the cap, in the upper edge of a wall surface on the upper inner side (technical solution 6).
In addition, upper surface or both the upper surface and a lower surface of the engagement projection may be formed in the manner of rising upward (technical solution 7).
In addition, a container is disclosed which includes : an inner cap for blocking an aperture part of a cap fitting part in the container in the manner of a plug, and an outer cap for blocking the cap fitting part in the manner of covering outside, wherein the inner cap and the outer cap have the inner cap attachment-detachment structure as specified above (technical solution 8).

Effect

The structure of the invention recited in each technical solution is used as a means to solve the above problem.
Firstly, according to the invention recited in technical solution 1, especially during a plugging operation of the inner cap, the outer cap presses the plug body of the inner cap from above so that the plug body of the inner cap is pressed nearly across the whole periphery, and a certain embedment (pressing) of the inner cap can be operated.
Besides, according to the invention recited in technical solution 2, when the projection tip end of the engagement projection is plugged and pressed to the lower area by the attachment-detachment operation part, the projection tip end is bent toward the inner side and acts so as to more strongly grab the attachment-detachment operation part. In this way, a firm and accurate engagement between the two is obtained; as a result, a stable plugging operation can be realized.
In addition, according to the invention in technical solution 3 or 4, after the alignment guiding structure is arranged, the engagement can be set in a state of aligning an inner cap core with the core of the attachment-detachment operation part of the outer cap, and a certain engagement of the two and a plugging operation can be achieved.
In addition, according to the invention recited in technical solution 5, the engagement positions between the attachment-detachment operation part of the outer cap and the engagement projection of the inner cap are a pair of opposite positions, the shape is a shape with which the mold structure can be simplified when the members are molded by a resin, and the work efficiency of the injection molding is also excellent; as a result, products can be provided to the market at low costs.
In addition, according to the invention in technical solution 6, the receiving notch in the engagement recessed groove of the attachment-detachment operation part forms the receiving surface chamfer; the difficulty in the engagement of the engagement projection with the attachment-detachment operation part, which is associated with the projection tip end forming the upper surface in the manner of rising, is eliminated.
In addition, according to the invention recited in technical solution 7, when at least the upper surface of the engagement projection is formed in the manner of rising, the cross-sectional shape of the tip end can be set to pointed, the attachment-detachment operation part is grabbed by the tipmost end of the projection tip end, and the engagement state between the two becomes more certain. Furthermore, when the lower surface of the engagement projection also inclines in the manner of rising, during the manufacturing of the inner cap by the resin molding, the mold is easily pulled, the productivity is improved, and the mold structure is simplified.
In addition, according to the invention recited in technical solution 8, a container having the above effects is obtained.

Brief Description of Drawings

Figure 1(a) is an exploded perspective view showing one embodiment of a container equipped with an inner cap attachment-detachment structure of the present invention, Figure 1(b) is a perspective view of the whole container in a state that an outer cap is mounted on the container, Figure 1(c) is an exploded perspective view showing an appearance of an engagement between the outer cap and the inner cap, Figure 1(d) is a partial enlarged plane view of the inner cap in a direction of the view along arrow d in Figure 1(c), Figure 1(e) is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view showing two kinds of shapes of the inner cap cut along a line e-e in Figure 1(c), and Figure 1(f) is an illustrative drawing showing a state of removing the inner cap from the container using the outer cap as a hand tool.
Figure 2(a) is an enlarged perspective view showing the outer cap in a state (posture) of being normally mounted, Figure 2(b) is a plane cross-sectional view partly showing an engagement guiding part of an attachment-detachment operation part in the outer cap, Figure 2 (c) is a partial vertical cross-sectional view showing two kinds of shapes of a pressing surface of the outer cap, and Figure 2 (d) is a plane cross-sectional view showing an engagement recessed groove part of the outer cap across the whole periphery.
Figure 3 (a) is a perspective view showing the inner cap in a state (posture) of being normally mounted, Figure 3(b) is a vertical cross-sectional view showing two kinds of cross-sectional shapes of the inner cap, and Figure 3 (c) is a plane view of the inner cap.
Figure 4 (a) are vertical cross-sectional views of the outer cap showing the outer cap in a state (posture) of being upside down so as to engage the outer cap with the inner cap, Figure 4(b) are vertical cross-sectional views showing the inner cap in a free state, and Figure 4 (c) are vertical cross-sectional views showing a plugging state that the inner cap and the outer cap are mounted on the container, and two drawings are shown in each state respectively.
Figure 5 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view showing three kinds of shapes of an engagement projection of the inner cap.
Figure 6 includes a plane view showing various plane shapes of an alignment guiding structure in the engagement projection of the inner cap, and a plane cross-sectional view showing various alignment guiding structures in the outer cap.
Figure 7-1 is an illustrative drawing sequentially showing an attachment/detachment operation of the inner cap, and an operation state of each part at this time.
Figure 7-2 is an illustrative drawing as above, and Figure 7-2 (v) is an illustrative drawing showing a state that the outer cap is bayonet-engaged with the inner cap in a plane view, and Figure 7-2(vi) is an illustrative drawing showing a state of removing the inner cap from the container.
Figure 7-3 (a) is a perspective view showing a state that liquid content attached to the plug bottom of the inner cap is wiped at the edge (the aperture part) of the container, and Figure 7-3(b) is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the same state.
Figure 7-4 is an illustrative drawing showing a state that the inner cap removed from the container is put on a work table and the like together with the outer cap.
Figure 7-5 is an illustrative drawing showing an appearance of the liquid content dripping from the inner cap to the outer cap in stages.
Figure 7-6 (viii) is an illustrative drawing showing a state when the inner cap in an engagement state with the outer cap is embedded in the container.
Figure 7-7 is an illustrative drawing showing a state that the inner cap extends to the outer peripheral side while a raised part of the outer cap contacts with the engagement projection of the inner cap, and a state that the plug body of the inner cap can be certainly pressed in a plug body pressing type even in this condition.
Figure 8(a) is an illustrative drawing showing a problem when the inner cap and the outer cap are not equipped with the alignment guiding structure, and Figure 8(b) is an illustrative drawing showing an alignment action when the alignment guiding structure is equipped.
Figure 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the outer cap and the inner cap in two kinds of engagement states and separation states respectively.
Figure 10 is an illustrative drawing showing a problem that the liquid content attached to the plug bottom of the inner cap drips when the inner cap removed from the container is put on the work table and the like together with the outer cap in an upside down state.
Figure 11 is an illustrative drawing showing the outer cap and the inner cap of a plug body pressing type and raised part pressing type.

Description of Embodiments

The best embodiment of an inner cap attachment-detachment structure of the present invention and a container equipped with the same is described as below, but the embodiment may be appropriately altered within the scope of the technical thought of the present invention.

Embodiments

Reference numeral 1 in the drawing denotes a container, and the container is equipped with an outer cap 2 and an inner cap 3 so that a strict hermetically sealed state can be obtained. That is, the inner cap 3 blocks an aperture part 13 of the container 1 in the manner of a plug-like embedment, and for example, a fixation means for being screwed into the container 1 is used as the outer cap 2 so as to cover the inner cap 3.
The members are described below; in the container 1, as an example, a cap fitting part 12 is arranged in the upper area of a container body part 11 in which the content is substantially stored. The cap fitting part 12 substantially forms an aperture part 13, has a relatively short-dimensioned cylindrical shape and the inner side becomes the aperture part 13 which communicates with the container body part 11. Then, on an outer periphery of the cap fitting part 12, a male screw part 14, for example, is formed so that the outer cap 2 is screwed and fastened.
Next, the outer cap 2 is described. The outer cap 2 receives the inner cap 3 in the cap fitting part 12 as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, and has, for example, a member shape of a covering cap which is screwed and mounted. Firstly, an attachment-detachment operation part 23 is provided in the upper area to a cap top surface part 22 of the cap body part 21 constituting the outer cap 2. Furthermore, a vertical direction in the present specification refers to a vertical direction in a closed state that the outer cap 2 and the inner cap 3 are mounted to the container 1. By the way, the reason why the vertical direction is defined in this way is that, as described below, when the inner cap 3 is attached/detached by using the outer cap 2 as a hand tool, the outer cap 2 is used in an upside down position which is reverse to the position during the regular use as a cap, so that the description is clarified. Furthermore, a female screw part 24 is arranged on the inner side of the cap body part 21, and the female screw part 24 is screwed with the male screw part 14 in the container 1 so that a fixation of the outer cap 2 is achieved.
Furthermore, an inner side surface of a section constituting the cap top surface part 22 is used as a pressing surface part 22a, and on the central side, a relief part 22b of an engagement projection 35 in the inner cap 3 described below which projects upward is formed.
Here, during the plugging, for example, as shown in Figure 4(c), the inner side surface of the cap top surface part 22 is used to press the inner cap 3 embedded in the container 1, and thus the inner side surface is set as the pressing surface part 22a.
Besides, when the inner cap 3 is embedded in the container 1, as described above, the outer cap 2 is used as the hand tool; in this case, there are two methods, one of which is to embed the inner cap 3 while pressing an vertical wall-like plug body 31 formed on the side peripheral surface of the inner cap 3 nearly over the whole periphery, and the other of which is to embed the inner cap 3 while pressing the engagement projection 35 which is formed to project inward in the upper area of the inner cap 3; in the present specification, the former is called a plug body pressing type and the latter is called a projection pressing type. Furthermore, details about the inner cap 3, especially about the plug body 31 and the engagement projection 35, are described below. In addition, especially in a state of the projection pressing type, the upper tip end of the engagement projection 35 is formed so as to project upward, so that in the outer cap 2, the relief part 22b is formed on the pressing surface part 22a of the cap top surface part 22 to avoid the interference with the upper tip end.
Next, the attachment-detachment operation part 23 of the outer cap 2 is described. The attachment-detachment operation part 23 is integrally formed on the upper surface of the cap top surface part 22 of the outer cap 2, has a circular peripheral shape in a plane view, and has a shape capable of being embedded in a recessed part 33 of the inner cap 3 described below. On the outer periphery of the attachment-detachment operation part 23, an engagement recessed groove 25 is formed in a plurality of positions, for example, two positions in the embodiment. When observed as a whole, for example, as shown in Figure 1(a), the engagement recessed groove 25 has a shape of a horizontal L in a side view, and includes a receiving notch 251 which leads the embedding in the recessed part 33 of the inner cap 3 and a catch groove 252 which is connected to the receiving notch 251 and extends in the peripheral direction. Furthermore, preferably, in the receiving notch 251, a receiving surface chamfer 251a is formed toward the cap top surface part 22 in the upper edge of a recessed wall surface 231 on the upper inner side of the receiving notch 251. Accordingly, an engagement operation between the attachment-detachment operation part 23 and the inner cap 3 can be smoothly conducted.
Furthermore, on the recessed wall surface 231 close to the inner part of the catch groove 252 which extends in the periphery direction, a raised part 253 is arranged so as to stabilize the engagement of the outer cap 2 and the inner cap 3 when the engagement of the two is realized. Such a catch groove 252 is substantially in a state of cutting into the side periphery surface of the attachment-detachment operation part 23 in the outer cap 2; as a result, a lifting rib 254 is relatively formed in the upper area which is divided by the catch groove 252. Then, the lifting rib 254 sets a lower surface side thereof as a lifting surface 254a, and an open end on the receiving notch 251 side of the lifting rib 254 is partially chamfered and forms an engagement guiding surface 254b. Furthermore, a section in the lower area opposite to the lifting surface 254a is set as a pressing surface 255, which is formed a little higher than the upper surface of the cap top surface part 22 of the outer cap 2.
By the way, in a case of the plug body pressing type, as described above, the plug body 31 of the inner cap 3 is pressed and the inner cap 3 is embedded into the container 1, and thus the pressing surface 255 is formed such that a diametrical dimension is larger than that of the lifting surface 254a.
In the following part, the shape and structure of the section related to the engagement recessed groove 25 in the attachment-detachment operation part 23 is described in more details. Firstly, as shown in an enlarged way in Figure 9, corresponding to the recessed wall surface 231 which is a wall surface of the inner part of the engagement recessed groove 25, a peripheral surface on the open side of the engagement recessed groove 25 is set as an outer wall surface 232. The outer wall surface 232 clamps the engagement recessed groove 25 from the upper and lower area, and the upper area (the lower area in Figure 9) of the outer wall surface 232 is an engagement outer wall surface 232a, on the other hand, the lower area constitutes a pressing outer wall surface 232b. The form of the section has, as described above, two types which are the plug body pressing type and the projection pressing type, the former of which is shown in Figures 9 (a) -1, (b) -1, the latter of which is shown in Figures 9 (a) -2, (b) -2, and a radial position of the pressing outer wall surface 232b in the attachment-detachment operation part 23 is different in each type. That is, in the plug body pressing type, the pressing outer wall surface 232b is located in the outer side of the position of the outer diameter (the most outer diameter including a wall thickness) of the plug body 31; in the projection pressing type, the pressing outer wall surface 232b is set to be located in about the same position as the inner diameter position of the plug body 31, that is, about the same position as the engagement outer wall surface 232a.
Furthermore, a corner part of the pressing outer wall surface 232b and the pressing surface 255 is set as a pressing outer edge 256, and a space between the pressing outer edge 256 and the recessed wall surface 231 of the engagement recessed groove 25 is set as a recessed groove width 25W. Besides, a positional relation of each of the sections around the engagement recessed groove 25 is determined by a relative relation to the shape and structure of the inner cap 3 described below, and the positional relation is described in a state of combining the two after the inner cap 3 is described.
Next, the inner cap 3 is described. The inner cap 3 blocks, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 3, an aperture part 13 of the container 1 by the plug body 31 and a plug bottom 32 in the manner of a plug, and the plug body 31 is provided with the recessed part 33 in the upper inner side up to the plug bottom 32. The attachment-detachment operation part 23 of the outer cap 2 is assembled to the recessed part 33 in an internal fitting state and the inner cap 3 is attached/detached with an action described below. The plug body 31 includes a flange part 34 facing outward in a cross-sectional view in the circumference part, and a plurality of engagement projections 35, about two pieces to four pieces, which project toward the inner side of the recessed part 33 are formed.
The engagement projection 35 is described in more details. As an example in the embodiment, in a plane view, two opposite pieces of the engagement projection 35 are arranged; the peripheral shape of the engagement recessed groove 25 in the attachment-detachment operation part 23 is related to the two types which are the plug body pressing type and the projection pressing type, and is roughly divided into two types.
Firstly, the engagement projection 35 shown in Figure 1(e)-1 is formed in the same plane with the flange part 34, projects in the manner of eaves in a direction perpendicular to a cross-sectional direction of the plug body 31, and corresponds to the outer cap 2 (the outer cap 2 not provided with the relief part 22b) of the plug body pressing type.
On the other hand, the engagement projection 35 shown in Figure 1(e)-2 corresponds to the outer cap 2 of the projection pressing type, and the tip end side of the projection tip end 351 is made to face upward; as a result, the engagement projection 35 is formed such that the upper position of the projection tip end 351 is higher than the height of the upper end of the plug body 31.
By the way, an end symbol "-1" added to each drawing refers to the plug body pressing type, and "-2" refers to the projection pressing type.
Besides, the projection tip end 351 of the engagement projection 35 may have various shapes as long as it is formed such that at least the upper position of the upper end surface is higher than the height of the upper end of the plug body 31. Specifically, firstly as shown in Figure 5(a), only the upper surface of the engagement projection 35 inclines upward from the upper edge of the plug body 31, and the lower surface is in a horizontal state, that is, a shape perpendicular to a height direction can be obtained. Besides, in the embodiment shown in Figure 5(b), the upper surface and the lower surface of the engagement projection 35 are formed into an upward parallel state. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in Figure 5(c), a semicircular projection part 351a is formed on the upper surface of the engagement projection 35.
By the way, in regard to an upward angle α of the projection tip end 351, as shown in Figure 3, when considering the pulling out and the like of the mold after molding, a degree of about 15° is preferable, a range in which the purpose can be achieved, namely 10°-60° may be selected, and furthermore, an angle range which exceeds the range may be selected.
Besides, in regard to the plug body 31, the range of a wall thickness part is set as a body thickness range 31t; in regard to the flange part 34, the range that projects to the outer side is set as a flange projection range 34d.
Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, Figure 3, Figure 6, the engagement projection 35 as a whole has a shape with different projection widths W in a plane view and an alignment guiding structure 5 is formed accordingly. That is, preferably, the projection width W of the engagement projection 35 has such a shape that the projection width W in an alignment guiding zone 352 is set to be smaller than the projection width W in an engagement ensuring zone 353, and the projection width W is smoothly increased toward the engagement ensuring zone 353. The various specific shapes can be obtained as shown in Figure 6, but preferably, as an example shown in Figure 6(a), the shape of the recessed part R is similar to the cross-sectional shape of the raised part 253 of the outer cap 2.
Here, an aspect in which the outer cap 2 and the inner cap 3 are combined is described. Firstly, in the plug body pressing type, as shown in Figures 9(a)-1, (b)-1, the pressing outer edge 256 in the attachment-detachment operation part 23 of the outer cap 2 is located in the outer peripheral side of the plug body 31 in the inner cap 3, that is, in the flange projection range 34d. In the state, an outer ring-shaped space in an vertical cross-section view is formed by the upper surface of the flange part 34 of the inner cap 3, the pressing outer wall surface 232b of the attachment-detachment operation part 23 in the outer cap 2 and the cap top surface part 22. Besides, when the content is a liquid (set as a liquid content L), the space is responsible for preventing the liquid content L attached to the plug bottom 32 of the inner cap 3 from dripping down and entering a tiny gap formed by the outer cap 2 and the inner cap 3, and entering the engagement recessed groove 25, and thus the space is set as an entry preventing space 220. Then, in regard to the entry preventing space 220, a depth dimension (a distance from the pressing outer wall surface 232b to the outer periphery end of the flange part 34) is set as a space width 220W, and the space width 220W is preferably more than twice thicker than the wall thickness dimension of the inner cap 3 (the flange part 34), and more preferably more than three times.
Besides, a separation distance between the upper surface of the flange part 34 of the inner cap 3 and the cap top surface part 22 of the outer cap 2 in the entry preventing space 220 is set as a space height 220L, and the space height 220L is preferably higher than the wall thickness dimension of the inner cap 3 (the flange part 34), and more preferably more than twice.
In such an embodiment, while the inner cap 3 is pressed into the aperture part 13 of the container 1, the pressing surface 255 presses the body thickness range 31t of the inner cap 3 nearly across the whole periphery, so that the pressing is reliably conducted.
Besides, the pressing surface 255 is not always necessarily formed as a continuous surface of 360 degrees, and may be interrupted, as shown in Figure 2 (a) -1 for example, in the midway. In this case, the pressing of the plug body 31 by the pressing surface 255 does not strictly cover the whole periphery; therefore, in the above description, it is also described as "(press across) nearly the whole periphery".
On the other hand, in a situation that after unplugging, the outer cap 2 and the inner cap 3 are put on the nearest work table and the like in a posture reverse to the combination state of the outer cap 2 and the inner cap 3, that is, in a state that the outer cap 2 is under the inner cap 3, , for example, a condition is considered that the liquid content L is attached to the plug bottom 32 of the inner cap 3 (see Figure 7-4). At this time, the attached liquid content L may drip to the outer cap 2 located in the lower area, along the plug body 31 from the outer periphery end of the plug bottom 32. However, even if this happens, due to the entry preventing space 220, the liquid content L is prevented from entering the tiny gap between the outer cap 2 and the inner cap 3 and from entering the engagement recessed groove 25.
By the way, when the entry preventing space 220 is not formed, as an example shown in Figure 10, the pressing surface 255 and the flange part 34 are extremely close to each other so as to form a state of a surface alignment, and a tiny gap is formed between the two surfaces. Therefore, when the liquid content L attached to the inner cap 3 drips from around, due to a capillary phenomenon and the like generated by the tiny gap, the liquid content L may enter the tiny gap in the way of being suck into the tiny gap and finally reach the inner part of the engagement recessed groove 25. Furthermore, when the liquid content L reaches the inner part of the engagement recessed groove 25, even if a waste cloth, a pointed instrument or the like is used to eliminate the liquid content L, because the inner part of the engagement recessed groove 25 has an internal corner, the liquid content L reaching the inner part is extremely hard to be eliminated cleanly. Furthermore, when the liquid content L which enters the inner part of the engagement recessed groove 25 is dried and solidified, the solidified product forms unevenness in the groove, and there is a possibility that the engagement recessed groove 25 having the attachment/detachment function may not sufficiently exhibit the function after the solidification.
Of course, even in a state that the entry preventing space 220 is formed as described above, the liquid content L may also drips by itself. However, for example, as shown in Figure 7-4, the liquid content L which droops from the inner cap 3 drips to the cap top surface part 22 or a shoulder part of the outer cap 2, and further drips down to the work table from here, but does not enter the tiny gap formed by the outer cap 2 and the inner cap 3 or enter the engagement recessed groove 25. By the way, the cap top surface part 22 or the shoulder part of the outer cap 2 is an external corner or a flat surface, and thus can be easily wiped by waste cloth and the like as long as in an undried state. Besides, such a section is at least not a recessed part having the attachment/detachment function, therefore, even when the liquid content L is dried and solidified, the liquid content L can be easily scraped off by a scraper or a skiver or a spatula and the like.
Furthermore, a technical thought itself of not allowing the liquid content L dripping from the inner cap 3 to enter the tiny gap between the outer cap 2 and the inner cap 3 has already been considered and achieved in a previous creation ( Japanese Patent No. 4134105 ) of the present applicant, and in the present invention, especially in the plug body pressing type, while the inner cap 3 is embedded into the container 1, the plug body 31 is equally pressed across the whole periphery, and the technical thought (the thought of not allowing the liquid content L to enter the tiny gap between the outer cap 2 and the inner cap 3) is achieved simultaneously.
Next, the projection pressing type is described.
In the projection pressing type, the above mentioned entry preventing space 220 is easily arranged. That is, in the projection pressing type, for example, as shown in Figures 9(a)-2, (b)-2, the pressing outer wall surface 232b of the attachment-detachment operation part 23 in the outer cap 2 and the engagement outer wall surface 232a are nearly the same surface, so that the structure of the entry preventing space 220 is ensured more easily.
However, in the projection pressing type, while the inner cap 3 is embedded into the container 1, a pressing force applied via the outer cap 2 only acts on the engagement projection 35 (see Figure 9(b)-2). Therefore, as shown in the same drawing, the projection tip end 351 of the engagement projection 35 is set to face upward, and the pressing in the section is ensured. Furthermore, the action is described below in detail.
The present invention includes the above mentioned specific shape and acts in the following way to conduct the attachment/detachment operation of the inner cap 3 reliably and smoothly.

(I) State of inner cap

Firstly, the plugging state of the inner cap 3 is described. As mentioned in the background of the invention described previously, the inner cap 3 is made of a soft resin having a certain flexibility (for example, made of polyethylene) so as to ensure the plugging state; in the plugging state, the inner cap 3 is forcibly pressed to the aperture part 13 of the container 1 so that a constant shape is obtained, but the inner cap 3 bulges to some extent in a free state. Specifically, as shown in Figures 4(b), (c), in the plugging state, the plug body 31 of the inner cap 3 is pressed in a push-contracted state in accordance with the diameter of the aperture part 13, which is the inner diameter of the cap fitting part 12 of container 1. By the way, in this state, the inner cap 3 is set to a state in which an apparent rigidity is high although the inner cap 3 itself is soft in the free state originally. On the other hand, in the free state, that is, in a state in which the inner cap 3 is pulled out, as shown in a slightly exaggerated way in Figure 4(b), there is no limit of the pressing toward the aperture part 13 in the container 1, so that a state is exhibited in which the diameter of the inner cap 3 expands as a whole. Furthermore, in the projection pressing type, the engagement projection 35 in the inner cap 3 does not exhibit a pressed state due to an existence of the relief part 22b in the outer cap 2.

(II) Unplugging operation

Firstly, when the unplugging operation is described, a state in which the inner cap 3 and the outer cap 2 are respectively in a state of closing the aperture part 13 of the container 1 is used as a starting state.

(a) Removal of outer cap (Figures 7-1(i) (ii))

According to a conventional method, in such a starting state, firstly, the outer cap 2 is usually screwed counterclockwise so as to relieve a screwing state. After that, the outer cap 2 is turned upside down so that the attachment-detachment operation part 23 side of the outer cap 2 faces downward.

(b) Start of engagement with inner cap (Figure 7-1(iii))

In such a state that the outer cap 2 is turned upside down, the attachment-detachment operation part 23 of the outer cap 2 is fitted to the recessed part 33 of the inner cap 3 to conduct the operation of thrusting the attachment-detachment operation part 23 into the recessed part 33. When the operation is conducted, the section of the receiving notch 251 in the engagement recessed groove 25 is made to correspond to the position of the engagement projection 35 in the inner cap 3, and the engagement projection 35 and the engagement recessed groove 25 are fitted together to allow the outer cap 2 and the inner cap 3 to approach each other. Actually, the inner cap 3 is in a state of being mounted to the container 1, and such operation is conducted that the outer cap 2 is fitted and pressed to the inner cap 3. At this time, when the receiving surface chamfer 251a is formed in the section of the receiving notch 251, the engagement is smoothly started. In addition, in the engagement recessed groove 25, the chamfered engagement guiding surface 254b is formed in the receiving notch 251 side of the lifting rib 254 which constitutes the engagement recessed groove 25, and the engagement operation with the engagement projection 35 is more smoothly conducted accordingly. By the way, in the operation, the outer cap core O2 and the inner cap core O3 may not necessarily correspond to each other, but even in this situation, as described below, the engagement is finally realized in a state that the respective cores O2, O3 correspond to each other due to the action of the alignment guiding structure 5.

(c) Bayonet engagement (Figure 7-1(iv), Figure 7-2(v))

The interference with the engagement projection 35 is avoided by the receiving notch 251 of the engagement recessed groove 25, and when the attachment-detachment operation part 23 of the outer cap 2 which is embedded in the recessed part 33 of the inner cap 3 causes the outer cap 2 to rotate clockwise as shown in the drawing in this state, the engagement is conducted in the manner of a bayonet engagement so that the catch groove 252 in the engagement recessed groove 25 receives the engagement projection 35 of the inner cap 3. At this time, when the alignment guiding zone 352 and the engagement ensuring zone 353, which are used as the alignment guiding structure 5, are formed in the engagement projection 35 of the inner cap 3, the raised part 253 located in the inner part of the catch groove 252 is firstly in a state of contacting with the alignment guiding zone 352, and the raised part 253 exhibits a state of sequentially contacting with the engagement projection 35, while the engagement projection 35 and the raised part 253 which are arranged opposite contact with each other equally, for example, the inner cap core O3 and the outer cap core O2 are guided to a state in which the two correspond to each other. By the way, in this case, when the engagement is of the projection pressing type, if the engagement state of the inner cap 3 and the outer cap 2 is observed from a vertical cross-sectional state, as shown in Figures 9(a)-2, (b)-2, the projection tip end 351 of the engagement projection 35 projects toward the upper area of the upper edge of the plug body 31; as a result, the projection tip end 351 of the engagement projection 35 is pressed to the lower area by the pressing surface 255 of the outer cap 2 in an upside down state. Accordingly, the projection tip end 351 is in a posture of facing toward the core side of the inner cap 3, the projection tip end 351 exhibits a state of surrounding the recessed wall surface 231 which is an inner wall of the catch groove 252 of the outer cap 2, and an engagement relation between the inner cap 3 and the outer cap 2 is accurately maintained. Of course, in a wiping operation described below (an operation to eliminate the liquid content L attached to the inner cap 3 immediately after the unplugging) or a plugging operation, the action functions more effectively.
Here, a formation reason and other forms of the alignment guiding structure 5 are described. As a background of the formation reason, based on Figure 8(a), inconveniences in a case of supposing that the alignment guiding structure 5 is not equipped are described. Firstly, between the outer diametrical dimension of the attachment-detachment operation part 23 of the outer cap 2 and the inner diametrical dimension of the recessed part 33 or the engagement projection 35 of the inner cap 3 which is engaged with the outer cap 2, a dimension difference, that is, a gap that allows the two to easily engage with each other is inevitably obtained. When such a gap is maintained, as shown in an exaggerated way in Figure 8(a), due to the gap, a first embedment tends to be accomplished in a state that the outer cap core O2 does not correspond to the inner cap core O3. When the outer cap 2 rotates to the right in the drawing in the manner of a bayonet engagement in this state, the raised part 253 on the side of the core deviation firstly contacts with the end part of the engagement projection 35 in a raised base end part 253p. On the other hand, observed from the raised part 253 on the opposite side, due to the core deviation of the outer cap 2, the raised part 253 contacts with the end part the engagement projection 35 in a raised middle part 253g on this side. Observed from the relation between such a raised part 253 and the engagement projection 35, a contact angle θ1 between a tangent of the raised part 253 on the side of the core deviation and a tip end tangent of the engagement projection 35 is larger than a contact angle θ2 on the opposite side. Therefore, when the outer cap 2 is rotated in a state of the deviation of the outer cap core O2 and the inner cap core O3, the outer cap 2 is prevented from rotating due to the raised part 253 on the deviation side; on the other hand, the contact angle θ2 is shallow (the angle is small) on the opposite side so that a state appears in which the raised part 253 is engaged more easily with the engagement projection 35. Of course, if the rotation of the outer cap 2 is realized more strictly, the engagement of the outer cap 2 and the inner cap 3 can be ensured, but when a careless operation is conducted, in the next step, the outer cap 2 gyrates around the raised base end part 253p on the deviation side, the outer wall surface 232 of the attachment-detachment operation part 23 abuts to the inner wall surface 33W of the recessed part 33 of the inner cap 3 in this position as shown by a symbol P (an abutment point) in the drawing, and a further gyration is prevented. This state is transmitted as a feeling to the hand of the operator, as if the cores of the outer cap 2 and the inner cap 3 accurately correspond to each other and the engagement is completed. In this state, of course, the catch groove 252 is not sufficiently engaged with the engagement projection 35, and the removal of the inner cap 3 described below tends to be uncertain.
As described above, from such a background, the engagement projection 35 is provided with the alignment guiding structure 5 which is the alignment guiding zone 352, so that a first engagement of the raised part 253 and the engagement projection 35 is smoothly conducted as shown in Figure 7-1(iv), Figure 8(b). As a result, a smooth engagement can be conducted even if the engagement is conducted without paying special attention to the correspondence of the inner cap core O3 and the outer cap core O2, and thus the outer cap 2 is led such that the cores naturally correspond to each other, and the engagement is completed. By the way, in regard to the shape of the alignment guiding zone 352, when the shape of the recessed part R is made to be approximate to the cross-sectional shape of the raised part 253 as shown in Figure 6, once the outer cap core O2 is kept to correspond to the inner cap core O3 herein, a more certain engagement state of the cores is obtained.
Besides, the alignment guiding structure 5 for this purpose should be formed between the raised part 253 and the engagement projection 35, for example, as shown in Figures 6(d), (e), a gentle alignment guiding surface 253A may be formed in the raised part 253, or an alignment guiding raised part 253B with a small raised height may be formed on the front part.

(d) Start of lifting (Figure 7-2(vi))

In a lifting, that is, the removal of the inner cap 3, the outer cap 2 is set to a dimension with which the cap body part 21 is sufficiently easily grabbed with a hand and easily acted on by a force, so as to lift the engaged inner cap 3 while prying the inner cap 3 away from the aperture part 13 in the manner of holding the cap body part 21. In this case, the actual lifting is conducted in a state that the lifting surface 254a of the lifting rib 254 which substantially forms one surface of the catch groove 252 is lifted while contacting with the lower surface of the engagement projection 35.
Besides, in a step of removing the inner cap 3 from the aperture part 13 of the container 1, the inner cap 3 is in a free state of expanding (see Figure 4(b)), and the rattling between the inner cap 3 and the outer cap 2 further increases. However, the raised part 253 is arranged in the section of the catch groove 252, and slowly contacts with the engagement projection 35 of the inner cap 3 in the manner of internal expansion, so that the rattling is not generated in the engagement between the outer cap 2 and the inner cap 3.

(III) Wiping operation (elimination operation of liquid content attached to inner cap) (Figure 7-3)

In the inner cap 3 removed from the container 1, as described above, the liquid content L may be attached to the bottom surface (the plug bottom 32), and the wiping operation refers to an operation of wiping the liquid content L on the edge of the container 1.
The operation is conducted, for example, as shown in Figure 7-3, by operating the outer cap 2 which is engaged with the inner cap 3 without rattling, and the operation can be conducted by a user without directly touching the inner cap 3. Specifically, firstly, as shown by an imaginary line in Figure 7-3(b), the inner cap 3 exhibits an inclined posture in the upper area of the aperture part 13, the liquid content L is gathered in the lower end edge of the plug bottom 32, and the extra liquid content L is dripped into the container as much as possible. Next, the outer cap 2 is moved so as to squeeze the inner cap 3 (the plug bottom 32) on the edge of the container 1 (the aperture part 13), and the liquid content L which could not be dripped completely by the above operation is wiped out on the edge of the container 1. In this way, the user can cleanly send the liquid content L attached to the plug bottom 32 back to the container 1 without directly touching the inner cap 3. Of course, the fact that the user does not touch the inner cap 3 in the wiping operation, that is, the user can conduct the wiping operation simply by the direct operation of the outer cap 2, is attributed significantly to the reliable catching of the inner cap 3 by the raised part 253 of the outer cap 2.
By the way, usually, when the liquid content L such as paint and the like accommodated in the container 1 are actually used, it is desirable that the content is well mixed together in advance and a component homogenization is realized. Therefore, even in the conventional container (a container not equipped with the attachment-detachment operation part 23 in the outer cap 2), it is considered preferably (recommended as a usage) that the inner cap 3 is opened quietly, and after that the liquid content L in the container is slowly mixed together with a long rod-like member. However, a means which separately uses the rod-like member and pursues for the component homogenization of the liquid content L is extremely complicated, and a relatively long time is required for a sufficient stirring. Therefore, there is an actual situation in which some users shake the container vigorously and stir the liquid content L before removing the inner cap 3. However, although the method of shaking the container 1 to stir the liquid content L can obtain a sufficient stirring effect at a relatively short time, a large amount of liquid content L is attached to the plug bottom 32 of the inner cap 3 because of the stirring and becomes the main reason for the following situation from before: for example, when the inner cap 3 is removed, plenty of the liquid content L is attached to the fingertip of the user, or more liquid content L drips when the inner cap 3 is put upside down on the work table.
In this regard, in the present invention, the inner cap 3 can be caught by the outer cap 2 without rattling, so that even if the container 1 is shaken and the liquid content L is stirred, that is, even if a large amount of liquid content L is attached to the inner cap 3, when the inner cap 3 is removed, the user does not directly touch the inner cap 3, and the liquid content L attached to the inner cap 3 can be certainly wiped.
Besides, it is also considered that due to the property and the like of the liquid content L, it is undesired to shake the container 1 in the plugging state to obtain the component homogenization (stirring), but even if the inner cap 3 is removed without shaking the container 1 (quietly), the liquid content L may be attached to the inner cap 3 as described above, and it is preferable to basically assume that the wiping operation as mentioned above is conducted after the unplugging. Of course, in a state that according to the visual observation of the user, the liquid content L is hardly attached to the inner cap 3 during unplugging, the above wiping operation is unnecessary and may be omitted certainly.

(IV) Inner cap positioning (Figure 7-4(vii))

After that, the inner cap 3 is put on the nearest table and the like; at this time, the bottom surface (lower surface) of the inner cap 3 in such a state of being captured by the attachment-detachment operation part 23 of the outer cap 2 is kept facing upward and positioned. Certainly, the upper area of the outer cap 2 is in an upward state.
Described below is an entry preventing structure which prevents, in such a state of the inner cap positioning, the content from entering the tiny gap between the outer cap 2 and the inner cap 3 and entering the engagement recessed groove 25. As described above, for example, the liquid content L stored in the container 1 may be attached to the plug bottom 32 of the inner cap 3 during unplugging. In such a state, when the plug bottom 32 of the inner cap 3 is carelessly positioned upward, as shown in Figure 10 for example, the liquid content L flows downward along the plug body 31. However, as shown in Figure 9, between the cap top surface part 22 of the outer cap 2 and the flange part 34 of the inner cap 3 which are engaged with each other, the entry preventing space 220 is ensured, so that even if the liquid content L flows down, the dropped liquid content L drips to the cap top surface part 22 or the shoulder part of the outer cap 2, and the entry to the gap and the engagement recessed groove 25 can be prevented. That is, due to the existence of the entry preventing space 220, a separation distance between the cap top surface part 22 and the flange part 34 (the space height 220L) and a distance from the pressing outer wall surface 232b to the end part of the flange part 34 (a space width 220W) are large, and the entry of the liquid content L into the gap due to the capillary phenomena which acts when the outer cap 2 and the inner cap 3 are arranged in a surface alignment state is prevented.
Next, a behavior of the liquid content is described, and the liquid content (shown by a symbol Ld) drips from the flange part 34 of the inner cap 3 to the outer cap 2 in the lower area.
As an example shown in Figures 7-5(a), (b), the liquid content Ld grows up, as a "drop" in the shape of a reverse Mount Fuji, in a position slightly leaning to the inner side on a surface toward the lower area of the flange part 34 which is upside down (an upper surface in the plugging posture), and finally drips to the cap top surface part 22 as shown in Figures 7-5(c)-(f). Certainly, the growth of the "drop" in the lower area of the flange part 34 is a phenomena which is generated in both a dripping direction and a horizontal direction along the flange part 34, an acceptable growth limit of the liquid content Ld which grows as the "drop" varies with properties such as an viscosity or a surface tension or a mass (specific gravity), and is set to a range in which the end part of the liquid content Ld (a boundary part with the flange part 34) deeply enters the entry preventing space 220 and does not reach a contact part (a tiny space area formed by the inner cap 3 and the pressing surface 255, shown by a symbol 221), and the capillary phenomenon must be avoided in the contact part 221.
Therefore, the dimension of the space height 220L of the entry preventing space 220 is set such that before the capillary phenomenon is generated in the contact part 221, the lower end of the "drop"-like liquid content Ld growing toward the lower area contacts with the cap top surface part 22. Accordingly, the liquid content Ld dripping to the cap top surface part 22 is prevented from entering the tiny gap between the outer cap 2 and the inner cap 3, and the engagement recessed groove 25.
Besides, the liquid content Ld dripping to the cap top surface part 22 grows sequentially, along with the "drop" from the flange part 34, as shown in Figures 7-5(e), (f), on the cap top surface part 22 in the horizontal direction along the flange part 34 (the diametrical dimension is enlarged), but flows down (moves entirely as being pulled) to the lower area in a manner that a section in the growing liquid content Ld which faces the shoulder part of the cap top surface part 22 is led to the R shape of the shoulder part (a curved surface shape) ; therefore, the entry of the liquid content Ld to the tiny gap of the outer cap 2 and the inner cap 3 is prevented.
Then, the above structure is more effective in the projection pressing type, because the space width 220W which is equal to a previous creation ( Japanese Patent No. 4134105 ) of the present applicant, more accurately, the dimension (the dimension a in Figure 7-5) from the end part of the "drop" which grows in the lower area of the flange part 34 in the manner of reverse Mount Fuji to the pressing outer edge 256 can be ensured.

(V) Plugging operation (Figure 7-6(viii))

Then, with regard to the engagement state between the engagement projection 35 in the inner cap 3 and the raised part 253 in the outer cap 2, the engagement state is a state in which the raised part 253 equally acts on the engagement projection 35 via the alignment guiding zone 352, and a state in which the outer cap core O2 and the inner cap core O3 correspond to each other (see Figure 7-2(v)). In this state, in order to blocking the aperture part 13 by the inner cap 3, the plug bottom 32 of the inner cap 3 is fitted again to the aperture part 13 of the container 1 in a state of facing the lower area, and the plug body 31 is pressed into the aperture part 13 by the operation of pressing the outer cap 2.

(i) Plugging of plug body pressing type

In such a plugging operation, as described above, there are two types which are the plug body pressing type and the projection pressing type, the plugging operation of the plug body pressing type is described firstly.
As shown in Figure 7-6(viii)-1, in a case that the outer cap 2 and the inner cap 3 are combined by engagement, the pressing outer edge 256 of the pressing surface 255 acting to plug is located on the outer side of the wall thickness of the plug body 31 in the inner cap 3 (a position from the outer side of the body thickness range 31t to the flange part 34), observed in a vertical cross-sectional direction. Therefore, when the outer cap 2 is pressed and the inner cap 3 is pressed to fit into the aperture part 13 of the container 1, and the upper area of the plug body 31 of the inner cap 3 can be equally pressed nearly across the whole periphery and a certain plug is obtained.
Especially, in a final state of the bayonet engagement of the outer cap 2 with the inner cap 3, for example, as shown in an exaggerated way in Figure 7-7, the inner cap 3 is in a state that the flange part 34 expands more than the plug bottom 32 in the radial direction, and the plug body 31 also inclines in the manner of narrowing downward (expanding upward) . The reason of the internal expansion of the inner cap 3 is that, as shown in the drawing, the raised part 253 of the outer cap 2 contacts with the engagement projection 35 of the inner cap 3, and the internal expansion state of the inner cap 3 is obvious in the raised part 253.
However, even in such a state, in the plug body pressing type, the pressing surface 255 equally presses the upper area of the plug body 31 of the inner cap 3 nearly across the whole periphery, so that the plug body 31 projecting to the outer side can also be reliably pressed by the raised part 253, and the inner cap 3 can be reliably embedded into the container 1.
Besides, Figure 7-7 corresponds to the cross-section of a line v-v in Figure 7-2(v).

(ii) Plugging of projection pressing type

In this case, as shown in Figure 7-6 (viii) -2, the pressing outer edge 256 of the pressing surface 255 is located close to the base end of the engagement projection 35 of the inner cap 3, observed in a vertical cross-sectional direction, and the pressing surface 255 is in a state of acting on the engagement projection 35.
Although a reaction force to the pressing is generated between the pressing surface 255 of the engagement recessed groove 25 in the outer cap 2 and the upper surface of the engagement projection 35, at this time, the engagement projection 35 is formed to such a state as to project to the upper area of the peripheral edge of the plug body 31, so that a load is intensively applied to this section firstly. Then, the projection tip end 351 falls down toward the inner side, the upper surface of the projection tip end 351 is in a flat state, the recessed wall surface 231 of the engagement recessed groove 25 in the attachment-detachment operation part 23 is grabbed in the tip end of the projection tip end 351, and a pressing action is performed while obtaining a stable engagement state. After that, the outer cap 2 is removed from the inner cap 3 and screwed to be fitted into the cap fitting part 12 of the container 1 in the manner of a covering lid, and the aperture part 13 of the container 1 is blocked completely.
Besides, in the above description, the plug body pressing type and the projection pressing type are described as separate aspects; however, for example, as shown in Figure 11, an aspect in which the two types are fused together may also be used (which is called a plug body pressing and projection pressing type). That is, in the plug body pressing and projection pressing type, the upper area of the plug body 31 is pressed nearly across the whole periphery and the inner cap 3 is pressed into the container 1, but the projection tip end 351 on the upper tip end of the engagement projection 35 is formed in the manner of projecting upward.
By the way, Figure 11(a) shows a usual plugging state, Figure 11(b) shows a state in which the outer cap 2 is engaged with the inner cap 3 (a unplugging state or a plugging state of the inner cap 3), and Figure 11(c) shows a state in which the unplugged inner cap 3 is put on the work table in a state of the engagement with the outer cap 2.
The present invention realizes the attachment/detachment of the inner cap 3 under the above actions, and the container 1 can be used as many containers equipped with the inner cap, for example, containers of drugs, containers of cosmetics and beauty products, furthermore, containers of food and foodstuff such as liquid condiments.

Reference Signs List

1: container
11: container body part
12: cap fitting part
13: aperture part
14: male screw part
2: outer cap
21: cap body part
22: cap top surface part
220: entry preventing space
220L: space height
220W: space width
221: contact part
22a: pressing surface part
22b: relief part
23: attachment-detachment operation part
231: recessed wall surface
232: outer wall surface
232a: engagement outer wall surface
232b: pressing outer wall surface
24: female screw part
25: engagement recessed groove
25W: recessed groove width
251: receiving notch
251: receiving surface chamfer
252: catch groove
253: raised part
253p: raised base end part
253g: raised middle part
253A: alignment guiding surface
253B: alignment guiding raised part
254: lifting rib
254a: lifting surface
254b: engagement guiding surface
255: pressing surface
256: pressing outer edge
3: inner cap
31: plug body
31t: body thickness range
32: plug bottom
33: recessed part
33W: inner wall surface
34: flange part
34d: flange projection range
35: engagement projection
351: projection tip end
351a: projection part
352: alignment guiding zone
353: engagement ensuring zone
5: alignment guiding structure
W: projection width
O2: outer cap core
O3: inner cap core
θ1: contact angle
θ2: contact angle
P: abutment point
α: upward angle
L: liquid content
Ld: liquid content (drop)

Claims

An inner cap (3) attachment-detachment structure for capping a container (1), comprising a plug-like inner cap (3) and an outer cap (2) mounted to the inner cap (3) so as to be externally overlaid thereupon, wherein the outer cap (2) can be used as a hand tool to combine and attach/detach the inner cap (3) to/from the container (1) in the manner of a bayonet engagement, wherein
the outer cap (2) is equipped, on the upper area, with an attachment-detachment operation part (23) which has a circular peripheral shape in a plane view and is capable of being embedded in a recessed part (33) of the inner cap (3); furthermore, on an outer periphery of the attachment-detachment operation part (23), an engagement recessed groove (25) is formed in a plurality, and the engagement recessed groove (25) comprises a receiving notch (251) for leading the embedding to the recessed part (33) of the inner cap (3), and a catch groove (252) which is connected to the receiving notch (251) and extends in a peripheral direction; furthermore, on the catch groove (252), a raised part (253) is arranged to stabilize an engagement between the outer cap (2) and the inner cap (3) when the engagement between the two is realized, a lifting rib (254) is formed in the upper area which is divided by the catch groove (252), and the lifting rib (254) sets a lower surface side thereof as a lifting surface (254a);

on the other hand, the inner cap (3) comprises: a plug body (31) which is adapted to be embedded in an aperture part of the container (1) in the manner of a plug and closes the aperture part, and a recessed part (33) which is formed on the upper inner side of the plug body (31) and receives the attachment-detachment operation part (23) of the outer cap (2); furthermore, above the plug body (31), an engagement projection (35) is formed in a plurality to project toward the inner side of the recessed part (33) in a plane view;

characterized in that a pressing surface (255), which is a lower surface of the catch groove (252) in the attachment-detachment operation part (23), is formed such that a diametrical dimension of the pressing surface (255) is larger than that of the lifting surface (254a), so as to be capable of pressing the plug body (31) from above while in a state of the engagement with the inner cap (3).
An inner cap (3) attachment-detachment structure for capping a container (1), comprising a plug-like inner cap (3) and an outer cap (2) mounted to the inner cap (3) so as to be externally overlaid thereupon, wherein the outer cap (2) can be used as a hand tool to combine and attach/detach the inner cap (3) to/from the container (1) in the manner of a bayonet engagement, wherein
the outer cap (2) is equipped, on the upper area, with an attachment-detachment operation part (23) which has a circular peripheral shape in a plane view and is capable of being embedded in a recessed part (33) of the inner cap (3); furthermore, on an outer periphery of the attachment-detachment operation part (23), an engagement recessed groove (25) is formed in a plurality, and the engagement recessed groove (25) comprises a receiving notch (251) for leading the embedding to the recessed part (33) of the inner cap (3), and a catch groove (252) which is connected to the receiving notch (251) and extends in a peripheral direction; furthermore, on the catch groove (252), a raised part (253) is arranged to stabilize an engagement between the outer cap (2) and the inner cap (3) when the engagement between the two is realized;

on the other hand, the inner cap (3) comprises: a plug body (31) which is adapted to be embedded in an aperture part of the container (1) in the manner of a plug and closes the aperture part, and a recessed part (33) which is formed on the upper inner side of the plug body (31) and receives the attachment-detachment operation part (23) of the outer cap (2); furthermore, above the plug body (31), an engagement projection (35) is formed in a plurality to project toward the inner side of the recessed part (33) in a plane view;

characterized in that the engagement projection (35) has an upper tip end which is formed so as to project upward, such that the position of the upper tip end is the highest part of the plug body (31) in a vertical cross-section view.
The inner cap (3) attachment-detachment structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an alignment guiding structure (5) is arranged so that in the position of a start of the engagement between the engagement projection (35) in the inner cap (3) and the raised part (253) in the attachment-detachment operation part (23) of the outer cap (2), any one of the two or both the two are transformed from a loose engagement state to an engaging ensuring state.
The inner cap (3) attachment-detachment structure according to claim 3, wherein the alignment guiding structure (5) is arranged in the engagement projection (35); the engagement projection (35) comprises an alignment guiding zone (252) and an engagement ensuring zone (253) from the start side toward the completion side of the engagement with the catch groove (252) of the attachment-detachment operation part (23) in the outer cap (2); the projection width of the engagement projection (35) in a plane view is formed so that the projection width of the alignment guiding zone (252) is set to be smaller than that of the engagement ensuring zone (253), and the projection width is increased toward the engagement ensuring zone (253) to be continuous with the engagement ensuring zone (253).
The inner cap (3) attachment-detachment structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the engagement projection (35) in the inner cap (3) is formed opposite to each other in two positions; accordingly, the engagement recessed groove (25) which is formed in the attachment-detachment operation part (23) of the outer cap (2) is formed in two positions.
The inner cap (3) attachment-detachment structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the receiving notch (251) in the engagement recessed groove (25) formed in the attachment-detachment operation part (23) of the outer cap (2) forms a receiving surface chamfer (251a), toward a top surface part (22) of the cap, in the upper edge of a wall surface on the upper inner side.
The inner cap (3) attachment-detachment structure according to claim 2, wherein when the position of the upper tip end in the engagement projection (35) of the inner cap (3) is the highest part of the plug body (31), an upper surface or both the upper surface and a lower surface of the engagement projection (35) are formed in the manner of rising upward.
A container (1) comprising: an inner cap (3) for blocking an aperture part of a cap fitting part in the container (1) in the manner of a plug, and an outer cap (2) for blocking the cap fitting part in the manner of covering outside, wherein the inner cap (3) and the outer cap (2) have the inner cap (3) attachment-detachment structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7.